Biotransformation of butylated hydroxytoluene in hairy root' cultures

«Hairy root» cultures of the Asteraceae species Bidens sulphureus were used to test the relationship between lipoxygenase and polyacetylene biosynthesis. Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), a well known lipid antioxidant, was incubated with the root cultures at 0.1-1.0 mM. Surprinsingly, the BHT-treated roots accumulated a single yellow compound extractable in chloroform. The product was identified as a dimeric stilbenequinone by high resolution mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance. Hydroxylamine (1mM) and KCN (0.01 mM) inhibited stilbenequinone formation by 40% and 60%, respectively. Stilbenequinone formation was also strongly inhibited when ascorbic acid (1 mM) or glutathione (1 mM) were added